Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALFEQBIN&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFEQBIN’, particularly characterized by having small, white flowers with dark purple spots, 1 to 3 peduncles that are medium long and sturdy, leaves that are narrow oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFEQBIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALFEQBIN’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with small, white flowers with dark purple spots suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFEQBIN’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in July 2007 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘17746-03’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-2077’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in July 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 18, 2016. ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALFEQBIN’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant.

-   -   1) Small, white flowers with dark purple spots;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is medium long and sturdy; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is narrow oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week old plants in October 2016. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALFEQBIN’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFEQBIN’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFEQBIN’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFEQBIN’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in October 2016 on 50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALFEQBIN’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘17746-03’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2077’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with branching             lateral roots having light purple colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50             weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 34.0 cm to 44.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 32.0 cm to 37.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 10 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm             to 19.0 cm. Width: 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm. Shape: Narrow oblong.             Base shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 5 degrees and 15 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS             146B. Texture: Rough. Thickness: 2.4 mm to 2.6 mm. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS             146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10 to 15.         -   Length.—41.0 cm to 46.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.7 mm to 3.9 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200B) with a touch of green (RHS 146B).         -   Internode length.—45.0 mm to 55.0 mm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 220.0 mm to             240.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 53.0 mm to 58.0 mm. Diameter: 58.0 mm to             63.0 mm. Depth of lip: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 15 to 22 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Length: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Width: 14.0 mm to             16.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Green (RHS 146B) and             purple on the top (RHS NN78C) with diluted dark purple spots             (RHS N79B).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Obtuse asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to             tip): 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Width: 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm. Color             (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Light purple (RHS N75B) and dark purple             spots (RHS N79B). Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Light purple (RHS 76C) and diluted dark             purple spots (RHS N79B).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 30.0 mm to             32.0 mm. Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Slightly light purple (RHS N75B) and dark purple             spots (RHS N79B). Lower surface: Basic color: Light purple             (RHS 76C). Over color: Light purple (RHS 76A) towards the             apex and diluted dark purple spots (RHS N79B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 31.0 mm to             33.0 mm. Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Light purple (RHS N75B) and dark purple spots             (RHS N79B). Lower surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS             76C). Over color: Purple stripe (RHS N75B) in the middle             towards the apex and diluted dark purple spots (RHS N79B).         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 11.0             mm to 13.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Purple (RHS N79B/C)             spotted (RHS NN155C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Entire. Length (from             base to tip): 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Width: 11.0 mm to 13.0 mm.             Color: White (RHS NN155C) at the base; purple (RHS N78A) and             yellow (RHS 13A) on one side; spotted and two stripes (RHS             183B).         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 16.0             mm to 18.0 mm. Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color: Yellow (RHS             13A) at the base; purple (RHS N79C) towards the whiskers;             red-purple (RHS 59B) spots.         -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm.             Length: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. Width: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Color:             Dark purple (RHS 187A) with yellow tips (RHS 9A); white (RHS             NN155C) on the sides.         -   Reproductive organs.—Column: Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm.             Diameter: 4.5 mm to 4.7 mm. Color: Purple (RHS N78B).             Pollinia: Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:             Yellow-orange (RHS N25B). Ovary: Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm.             Diameter: 2.0 mm to 2.2 mm. Pedicel: Length: 32.0 mm to             34.0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm. Color: Green (RHS             145B/C) at the base; light purple (RHS 76C) towards the             flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALFEQBIN’ differs from female parent plant ‘17746-03’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has a spotted flower pattern and an obtuse asymmetric petal apex, whereas ‘17746-03’ has a striped flower pattern and a rounded petal apex. Additionally, ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has smaller flowers and a shorter plant height than ‘17746-03’.

‘PHALFEQBIN’ differs from male parent plant ‘01-2077’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has a spotted flower pattern and an obtuse asymmetric petal apex, whereas ‘01-2077’ has a flecked flower pattern and an obtuse petal apex. Additionally, ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has larger flowers and a taller plant height than ‘01-2077’.

‘PHALFEQBIN’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALDONFI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,066) and ‘PHALDIMAN’ (unpatented). ‘PHALFEQBIN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDONFI’ in that ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has a dark purple callus with yellow tips and flowers with a white basic color and a spotted pattern, whereas ‘PHALFIMWAQ’ has a yellow dotted callus and flowers with a light pink basic color and a striped pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has larger flowers and longer whiskers than ‘PHALDONFI’.

‘PHALFEQBIN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDIMAN’ in that ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has a triangular apical lobe, a dark purple callus with yellow tips and flowers with a white basic color and a spotted pattern, whereas ‘PHALDIMAN’ has an elliptic apical lobe, a dark purple callus and flowers with a light yellow basic color and an edged pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has larger flowers and longer whiskers than ‘PHALDIMAN’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFEQBIN’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 